Reviews

Boutique label, Folkstock Records, continues uncanny knack of discovering new artists to savour. Addition of Danielle Lewis to a roster already fashioned with several leading ladies although a guy or two spring to mind breaking trend.

Credit to Danielle's talent includes acceptance onto BBC Cymru Wales' Emerging Talent Horizons Project for 2016. The EP 'Fly' itself kindly funded by Arts Council Wales establishing a pattern. 'Fly' is her third EP, two of the songs, title 'Fly', and 'Belong' earlier released as double A side single reveal a wonderful vocal. Title song 'Fly' describing birds journey was recorded by Lauren Deakin Davies, and Richard Llewellyn (best known for Welsh alternative pop band, Paper Aeroplanes) first indication of apt comparisons to Karen Carpenter and current belle Taylor Swift.

Danielle reveals inspiration behind some of the songs, 'Belong' written during 2012 tour of Australia is about being away from home my experiences living in a new country. To 'know where I belong' comes from not being in one place but exploring and discovering new places and music, also to be happy where I am now and make the most of it. 'Anywhere Is Home' recalls her experiences during visit and career dreams, packing her belongings and leaving childhood West Wales coastal home for the bright lights. The Welsh language 'Hiraeth', translating as longing or being home sick with lyric lamenting being lost at sea, while co-write 'West Coast Sun' with Richard Llewellyn (*1) (pick for next single) adds joyous sprinkle of the sunny 70's sound inspired by Joni Mitchell's 'California.'

Production graced by the chair of Lauren Deakin Davies, shared with Gethin Jones on 'Anywhere Is Home' delivering in the main an up-tempo EP replete with pure vocals, harken the cry as you wander among her native hillsides.